Ventilating-hatch for refrigerator-cars.



'P atented Sept. 4, I900. H. m. MclNTOSH. VENTILATING HATCH FQRREFRIGERATOR CARS.

(Application med Aug. 27, 1898.)

( No Model.)

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Patented Sept 4, 1900.

H. M. memos. VENTILATING HATCH FOB REFRIGERATOR CARS.

(Application filed Aug. 27, 1898.)

4 Sheets-Sheet 2.

(No Model.)

WELL

11 uonms vzrzas 00 moi-01.1mm WASHINGTON, n. c.

No. 657,441. Patented Sept. 4, I900.

H. M. McI NTOSH.-

VENTILATING HATCH FOR REFRIGERATOR CARS. (Application filed Aug. 27,1898.)

(No Model.) 4 Sheets-Sheat 3.

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No. 657,441. Patented Sept. 4, I900.

H m. mmrosu. VENTlLATlNG HATCH FOR REFRIGERATOR CARS.

(Applicatiun filed Aug. 21, 1898.)

4 Sheets-Sheet 4.

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U ITED" Y PATENT CF I HARRY M. MOINTOSH,WQF on oAeo, r LINoIs:

VENTlEATlNG -HATGH FoRj R-EFRI'G ERATQR-CARS.

'srncrr'reerren forming patter Letters p te t No. 657,441, aateaSeptember 4, ieoo.

Application nta ime :7, 398,

To all u'zhom it may concern." I L 1 I Be it known that I, HARRY M.Molrrrosrr, a citizen of the United States of America, and a resident'ofthe city of Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, haveinvented certain new and usefulImproveinents in Ventilating Hatches forRefrigerator Cars, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to hatches which are also used forventilating'purposes' The objects of my improvement are to providesecure covers or hatches for the ice-holesor hatchways ofrefrigerator-cars, to utilize such hatches for ventilating-hoods bywhich the current of air caused by a' moving train can be turneddownwardly and directed. through the body of the car with the greatestpossible force, unimpeded by unnecessary obstructions, and to simplifythe construction of p the necessary parts and reduce the possibility oftheir loss or destruction. I attain these objects by the means and bythe arrangement of parts illustrated in the accompanying drawings, inwhich- Figure 1 is a plan view of the top of a reA frigerator -car withone form of apparatus 1 embodying my improvement attached. Fig. 3 2 is aview, partly in end elevation and partly I in transverse section, of theend of a refriger- 1 ator-car with the form of my invention shown inFig. 1 applied thereto. Fig. 3is an enlarged i sectional view of thesame form of my im-% proved hatch on the dotted line 1 1 of Fig. 1, 1

represented as closed by the solid lines and f open for ventilat-ionbythe dotted lines. Fig. 3 4 represents another form of apparatusembodying my invention wherein the VQIltllfiJi-g ing-lids are hinged toa hatch, whichintu-rni is attached to the car-roof, a portion beingbroken away to show the internal construc- 1 tion. Fig. 5 is a frontview of the cons-trilc- 1 tion shown inFig. 4. Fig. 6 isa longitudinalsection of the same, taken on the dotted line 2 2, looking in thedirection of the arrows. 1 Fig. 7 is a transverse sectional'view of Fig.i 4:, taken on. the dotted line 3 3, lookinginthe directionof-theiarrows. Fig. 8 shows an-i other arrangementembodying theprinciples of my device in which thetriangular lids are hinged, togetherwith the remaining portions 1 of a rectangular hatch-cover, to apivotallyserial tit. 689,629. (No model.)

i attached diagonal framing. Fig. 9 is a front verse section on thedotted line 4 4. Fig. 11

is a detail perspective of the rear fastening of the diagonal framing.Fig. 12 shows an- 1 other arrangement embodying the principles of myinvention in which the hatch isdivided centrally and the two parts areseparately hinged. Fig. 13 is a transverse sectional view of the same onthe dotted line 5 5. Fig. 14 is a transverse sectional view of a portionof the same, taken on dotted line 6 6. Fig.

15 isa longitudinal sectional view of Fig. 12, taken on the dotted line7 '7; Fig. 16 is an are well understood and no detailed description ofeither is necessary. It is sufficient "to say that such cars have theirexternal portions carefully constructed with reference to non-conductionof heat and cold and that the modern if not the universal practice is tobuild ice boxes or chambers in each end of the car to contain ice whenrefrigeration of the contents of the caris necessary. Two openings orhatchways are placed over each ice-box, one on eitherside of theroof,through which ice is introduced. 1 These openings are provided withcovers or hatches by which they can be securely closed. There are,however, seasons of the year and portions of the journey on many longroutes in which the use of ice is not desirable, but during which it isnecessary to ventilate the interiors of the cars. The hatchways are themost conveni ent andpracticable medium through which the air can beconducted into and from the car. It is the common practice to'hinge thehatches or covers'to the car-deck at the portion of the hatchway mostremote from the end of the car. When ventilation is desired, the hatchesare raised and supported in an inclined position toward the car ends.The motion ofthe train creates an air-current Many methods have beendevised to'hold the hatches in proper ventilating position andseparately or in combination to protect the opening thus left. This hasusually been done by screens and side wings hinged to the cover or toeach other and arraihged tobe folded upon each other or upon thecoverwhen not in use or to be disposed in pockets or receptacles formedfor the purpose. The

necessity of such storage in limited space requires such screens andwings to be made of comparatively-light material, which when framedorhinged together are very liable to breakage or injury under thecareless handling and severe conditions ofrailway service. The hatchesinclined as described do not furnish the most ready passage foryairrcurrent's, and the use of a perpendicular -or nearly-perpendicularscreen seriously impedes the passage of the ventilating-current.

My improvements meet and overcome these difficulties, as willhereinafter be more fully explained, reference being had to the draw.ings, in which the same letters represent like parts throughout.

A represents the top ofa refrigerator-car, and A the foot or runningboard, extending from end to end ofthe same. 3 represents theice-openings or hatchways, and O- the raised edge or coaming surroundingthe same.

These parts may beof the usual or any wellknown or convenientconstruction.

The covering or hatch to which my invention particularly relatescomprises triangularly-shaped lids a a, which in the form shown in Fig.1 are attached by hinges b to. the forwardly-diverging hinge-cleats C.The latter ,mo'venient of the train.

except as the sealing devices are broken.

When it isdesired to.,form.a ventilating-hood, the covers are raised,as'shown by the dotted lines in Fig. 3, the edge of the lip a is fittedto the grooveo throughout its length, and the staples d and d arepassed, respectively, through the openings d and d being sealed atd bythe .sealing-hookd -A triangularlyformed hood is thus produced, itslargest end beingpresented-to the end of the car and adapted to receiveand convey the full current of air as a forced draft caused by the Suchcurrentof air being thus deflected and toa certain extent compressed, itis much more readily forced through: a horizontal screen closing theiceopening, as shown inFig s. 4 and 8, than if the screen were appliedat the front of the hood, as is now frequently done. I

In the construction of my device as shown in Figs. 4 'to 7, inclusive,in which the plan view 'of the'top of anice-hatch fitted with my deviceis shown, a substantial framing D surrounds the hatch-coaming O.Framing-timbers F extend diagonally from the central rear portion of thehatch-cover to the forward are suitably raised from the top of the carby' also to provide means for holding the lids in proper relativeposition when raised, the

under side of the lid (the right one inFig. 3) i is grooved to admit theinsertion of a plate a, which is securely fastened thereto. The plate aprojects beyond the opening between thef lids and is'seated in acorresponding depresi sion in the'other lid,thus making a uniformiy- 1In order to.pro- 1 vide means forlocking the lids in open posi- I levelsurface underneath.

- tion, staplesd and d may be attached to the edges of a insubstantially the same horizontal plane. Theother lid (1 may be providedin like manner with a broad projecting plate a which, if desired, may beprovidedwith a.

the openings 01 and'd shallow groove 0 on its under side, along the s.

outer edge thereof and a short distance there'- from, and through thesaid plate aremade It will be seen that in this case is not in anywaydilferent than when applied directly'to, the car, either when closedorwhen used .as a'ventilating-hood. If desired, the screen maybefittedin the triangular space beneath the said lids and beventilatingappliances. i The screen f is practi'cally an integralpart thereof andfully protected, against injury whether the hatch is 'openedorclosed,and' it will be further observed;. thatas long as the openingisxused only for ventilating and the ice-plugor insulating mediumprovided therefor is unused the hatch proper need not be opened.. All

that is necessary to givecomplete ventilation g V IIO The 7 iota 41without distiirbingthe complete protection of the car is to open thelids a and to place and fasten them in proper relative positions.

The foregoing description applies also to the forms of myimprovementshown in Figs. 8t0

11, inclusive, except to the special features therein shown and whichwill now be de scribed. In the form shown in Fig. 8 diagonal timbers Hextend from a central pointin the rear of the hatch-opening,respectively right and left to the forward corners of the same, wherethey are pivotally connected by the bolts 71. h to the timbers I I. Thetriangular lids, above referred to, are arranged to form a cover for theinternal triangular spaces thus form ed. The remainder of thehatch-covering may be framed and built in the usual manner to bepivotally attached to the diagonal timbers H H by the hingesjj. In thearc of the circles of which the pivots h h are the center are guide-rodsg, attached at their extremities to the car top or framing and whichpass through the eyebolt 7c. The latter in turn passes through the rearends of the diagonal timbers H H, where it is securely fastened by somesuitable device, as the wing-nut Z. The object of thus arranging theportion of the decking outside the triangular timbers H is to allow thesame to be turned upwardly from the roof of the car' when it is desiredto open the hatches, and by loosening the attachment of the timbers H atthe rear the same can be swung to each side, guided by the rods g, thusexposing the ice-opening throughout its full capacity. In this form ofthe device the screen can, if desired, be hinged to a convenient portionof the ice-opening, as shown in Fig. 15, being swung out of the way oradjusted in any other convenient method.

The construction shown in 12 is substantially like the form shown inFig. 4, but having the main hatch divided longitudinally in two parts,which are suitably hinged, upon each of which are respectively turnedback thelids above described. If desired,the screen to be used incombination with this form of my device may be separate therefrom andhinged to a convenient portion of the hatchcoaming, as shown in Fig. 15,or, as is evident, it may be divided and one half attached to each ofthe two main portions of the hatch.

I have now set forth the nature and objects of my invention andillustrated the same by several operative and practical examples. I

do not, however, intend to limit myself to any particular form ofconstruction; but

What I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is.

1. The combination,with a refrigerator'car having an ice-opening; of acover for the ice opening comprising lids adapted to open and close onopposite sides of the ice-opening on axes converging toward each otherand trending lengthwise of the cars and means for securing the lidstogether in raised position and closing the opening between the edges ofthe lids to provide a hood whereby the air entering between the lids isdeflected and led as a forced draft into the ice-opening. v

2. The combination,with a refrigerator-car having an ice-opening; of acover for the iceopening comprising lids having overlapping edges andadapted to open and close on opposite sides of the ice opening on axesconverging toward each other and trending lengthwise of the car, locking devices located along the overlapping edges of the lids, and means forsecuring the lids together in raised position and closing the openingbetween the edges of the lids to provide a hood whereby the air enteringbetween the lids is deflected and led as a forced draft into theice-opening.

3. The combination-,with a refrigerator-car having an ice-opening; of acover for the iceopening comprising lids having underlapping andoverlapping plates respectively and adapted to open and close onopposite sides of the ice-opening on axes converging toward each otherand trending lengthwise of the car, and means for securing the platestogether when the lids are in raised position to provide a hood wherebythe air entering between the lids is deflected and led as a forced draftinto the ice-opening.

4. A refrigerator-car having an ice-openin g in the roof thereof, ahatch or cover for the said opening, said hatch being pivotallyconnected to the roof of the car and provided with pivoted sections orlids having an extension-plate on the first adapted to fit under thesecond and an extension-plate on the second adapted to fit over thefirst, said lids or sections adapted when raised to form aventilating-hood, substantially as described.

5. A refrigerator-car having an ice-opening in the roof thereof, a hatchor cover for the said opening divided longitudinally into two sectionseachindependently and pivotally connected with the roof of the car, saidhatch being provided with convergingly hinged overlapping lids, one toeach section, constructed with a fixed extension-plate on the firstadapted to lap under-the body of the second and a fixed extension-plateon the second adapted to lap over the body of the first, and means forsecuring the said lids together when in a raised position with theiredges meeting, substantially as described.

6.. A refrigerator-carhaving an ice-opening in the roof thereof, a hatchor cover for said opening divided into two sections, each independentlyand pivotally connected with the roof of the car, a ventilating-openingin the said cover and a screen to protect the same, said hatch or coverbeing provided with convergingly-hinged lids, one to each section,constructed with a fixed extension-plate on the first adapted tounderlap the body of the second and a fixed extension-plate on thesecond adapted to overlap the body of the first,with locking devicesalong the exposed edges of the said plates, substantially as described.

7. In combination with a refrigerator-car having a rectangularice-opening inthe roof thereof, timbers pivotally connected with the'front corners of the opening and normally meeting at the rear side,means for movably securing the meeting ends of the said timhers;triangular overlapping lids hinged to said timbers and adapted to closethe space between them when shut, means for securing the proximate edgesof these lids together when raised, to form a ventilating-hood, andwings secured to the outer edges of said timbers to close the remainingportions of said rectangular opening, substantially asdescribed. I g

8; In combination with a refrigerator-car having a rectangularice-opening in the roof scribed.

thereof, timbers pivotally connected with the front corners of theopening and normally meeting at the rear side, means for normallysecuring the meeting ends of said timbers, triangularflidspi'votallyattached. to said timbers and adapted to close the spacebetween the same when shut and to form a ventilating-hood when open,andtriangular wings hinged to the outer edges of said timbers andadapted to close the remaining portions of the rectangular opening,substantially as de- HARRY MoINTosH. Witnesses:

W. A. HosEY', M. A. KNAPP.

